Thu, Apr 29, 2010
Members Of Congress And Staff Hear Positive GA Message From
Academy Award Winning Pilot
Industry groups including NATA, GAMA, NBAA, and EAA
participated in a General Aviation Caucus event at the U.S. Capitol
Tuesday, which featured academy award-winning actor Harrison
Ford.
Ford spoke of his passion for aviation and especially for
programs to help young people get involved in aviation before more
than 250 congressional staff and industry representatives,
including at least twenty Members of the U.S. House of
Representatives and five U.S. Senators. He said he particularly
enjoys working to highlight the sectors of general aviation not
frequently discussed, such as EMS flights, the civil air patrol,
and public safety flights. In addition, Ford praised all segments
of the industry; public-use airports, charter operators, FBOs and
pilots, for being instrumental in the relief efforts in Haiti and
continuing to be major contributors of goods and supplies into the
area.
"Approximately 231,000 general aviation aircraft fly throughout
this country each day. That's a lot more than people realize," Ford
said. "The economic impact of the industry is another factor that
many people aren't aware of - that it employs over 1.3 million jobs
and contributes over $150 billion to our nation's economy." More
importantly, Ford stated he would like to see increased job growth
in the aircraft manufacturing sector, which will improve the
overall outlook for the industry.
Ford, a private pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and
helicopters, is one of general aviation's biggest allies. He is
currently the spokesman for AOPA's General Aviation Serves America
campaign and the Honorary Board Member of the humanitarian aviation
organization Wings of Hope. Previously, he served as the chairman
of EAA's Young Eagles program.
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